Forget the favorites! Everyone's talking about the big names at Cheltenham, but could a dark horse steal the show? Mark Howard reveals five under-the-radar contenders who skipped the festive cheer but are firmly on his radar for a March surprise. Let's dive in and see if we can spot a future champion before the crowds do.
C’EST DIFFERENT – Pertemps Final
Sam Thomas had a Christmas to forget. Lady Luck wasn't on his side, with drying ground ruining Jubilee Express's chances in the Welsh National. Lump Sum came up lame after a disappointing run, and Katate Dori was agonizingly close in a valuable Cheltenham handicap chase. It seemed like nothing was going right.
And it didn't stop there! C’EST DIFFERENT, Thomas's promising hurdler, also missed a New Year's Day run at Prestbury Park due to the lack of rain. But here's the plan: Thomas is targeting the Pertemps Final in March for the six-year-old. But here's where it gets controversial... To secure a spot in the lineup, he's eager to give C'EST DIFFERENT another run to boost his rating.
Currently rated 121, he's walking a tightrope. To put things in perspective, the bottom weights in the last three Pertemps Final renewals were rated 121, 129, and 124. This explains Thomas's hesitation to sideline the Manatee gelding until spring. He needs that extra buffer! Since venturing into handicap races, the youngster has been unstoppable, winning three consecutive races. Last February, he impressively secured back-to-back victories at Carlisle and Chepstow off a rating of 92, clearly relishing the step up to middle distances. Think about how much confidence those wins must have given him and the team.
Those wins earned him a 17-pound rise in the ratings. And he looked even better on his seasonal reappearance at Market Rasen in late November. Ridden by Dylan Johnston, he tackled two miles and seven furlongs for the first time, raced prominently, and then dominated the race from the top of the straight, ultimately winning comfortably. And this is the part most people miss... The horse that finished fourth in that race has since won a Listed hurdle, further validating C'EST DIFFERENT's performance. He was then upped another 12 pounds for his eight-and-a-half-length victory. So, is he still underrated? He's developing into a smart stayer who might still have a few pounds in hand. He is owned by Dai Walters. Could he be a serious contender for the Pertemps Final? Or has the handicapper caught up with him now? What do you think – is C'EST DIFFERENT a genuine dark horse, or will the competition prove too stiff?
